War of the Ring - Shut Up & Sit Down Review

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 ต.ค. 2024
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ความคิดเห็น • 1.3K

  • @MuffinManBen
    @MuffinManBen 5 ปีที่แล้ว +3417

    Lmao, little do they know that I’ve studied the map of Middle Earth since I was in kindergarten. I knew this skill would come in handy one day.

    • @SousukeAizen421
      @SousukeAizen421 5 ปีที่แล้ว +89

      hehe.. i also managed to memorize most of those locations from hours of playing battle of middlearth rts game as a kid

    • @taloob493
      @taloob493 5 ปีที่แล้ว +36

      Other player: what faction does the horse represent? And where the hell is nurnen?
      Me: *picture of barron trump with the expert shirt*

    • @BennysGamingAttic
      @BennysGamingAttic 4 ปีที่แล้ว +40

      I played Lord of the Rings risk, and had a map hanging above my bed.
      I'm ready

    • @raymundmijares1491
      @raymundmijares1491 4 ปีที่แล้ว +28

      just know that friends are not included

    • @lencausey740
      @lencausey740 4 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Raymund Mijares there’s always a catch!

  • @morganfellows8182
    @morganfellows8182 6 ปีที่แล้ว +3936

    Everything you say in this review about what a commitment this game would be makes sense. I definitely wouldn't have time to play it, probably not even once. However I've had two glasses of wine so I just bought it.

    • @massimotristano4277
      @massimotristano4277 6 ปีที่แล้ว +140

      Just wait for that Saturday when the weather sucks, and a friend of yours or your partner is bored, set up the game and go with the flow. It is an amazing experience for any Fantasy and Tolkien fan, and the gameplay is just bloody stellar.

    • @johnc.4871
      @johnc.4871 6 ปีที่แล้ว +23

      it really is a great game.

    • @stm12p
      @stm12p 6 ปีที่แล้ว +40

      doesnt take much time i believe. First play could take up to 5+ hours, but consequent plays took me max 4h, in a very lazy and chatty afternoon. If we were really focused, 3h.

    • @bensmith6554
      @bensmith6554 5 ปีที่แล้ว +21

      Damn I'm on glass two and looking to buy it

    • @sammysabouni7
      @sammysabouni7 5 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      HAHAHAH

  • @spehizle
    @spehizle 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1074

    I know you're just pronouncing these names wrong just to piss me off specifically.

    • @timothymclean
      @timothymclean 3 ปีที่แล้ว +47

      And he occasionally pronounces them correctly just to irritate me specifically. They _almost_ did it consistently, darnit!

    • @Dark0000Jester
      @Dark0000Jester 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Annoys me too!

    • @SpoonyBard88
      @SpoonyBard88 3 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      @Stella Hohenheim That Tolkien did not do a great job of portraying them. For all the talk about different people and races coming together in the face of adversity, the good guys are all white, and the brown people are working for the villain of the story. Here: en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tolkien_and_race

    • @seanassociateproductions1691
      @seanassociateproductions1691 3 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      @@SpoonyBard88 Easterlings are never actually described as being brown that was a creative decision by Peter Jackson

    • @arthursimsa9005
      @arthursimsa9005 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@SpoonyBard88 While Southern people are I believe describe as having dark skin, that's not the case of other the also evil Easterlings.

  • @mikkeljensen2694
    @mikkeljensen2694 3 ปีที่แล้ว +446

    So after watching this review, I bought the game, found a friend who was into LotR as much as me and started playing it on a regular basis.....Its now 1½ year later and we still play this game every 2nd week. It has become my favorite game of all time, it has defined multiple new friendships i have made and it is still as exciting to play now as when I started playing 1½ year ago.
    Thanks SU&SD for making this review and really communicating how a glorious experience this game can be.
    PS: And yes, the game is still complicated, have properly only played the game right without a rules mistake 2-4 times :)

  • @SylvEdu
    @SylvEdu 6 ปีที่แล้ว +650

    Had a buddy in high school who was really into strategy games like me. Maybe two days a week we would get together at his house and play this game for an hour or two in the dining room where we kept this board permanently set up. When we finished the game, we would reset it, change sides, and start over again. After spending a few hours at it, if we didn't feel like finishing, we just walked away and left everything exactly where it was and picked it back up in a few days. Really, really fun times.

    • @NoNameAtAll2
      @NoNameAtAll2 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      how was the balance?

    • @SylvEdu
      @SylvEdu 2 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      @@NoNameAtAll2 Pretty good, actually. I lost and won as both sides. It's definitely a strategy game.

    • @javierburgosh
      @javierburgosh 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      so no cats in your house then XD

    • @SylvEdu
      @SylvEdu 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@javierburgosh There were two in my house, but none in his. It certainly would not have been possible at my house, lol.

  • @winstonvkoot
    @winstonvkoot 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1309

    play with a friend...HAHAHAHAHAH HA ...HA...Ha...ha *sobs*

  • @AndrewRichesson
    @AndrewRichesson 5 ปีที่แล้ว +284

    I'm ashamed at how many times I've rewatched this review. Probably going on 7 times at this point. I absolutely adore this game!

    • @ChrisS-nj3ye
      @ChrisS-nj3ye 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Maybe you should just play the game instead of watching this review? : )

    • @tahunuva4254
      @tahunuva4254 5 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      You're ashamed of it yet you still comment about it.
      I guess you could say that's a little... Paradoxical ;)

    • @tahunuva4254
      @tahunuva4254 4 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      Note: this is a reference to the OP's avatar, which, at the time of posting, is the symbol of the Paradox faction from Lego Universe.
      Also yes, I am back here rewatching this. Again.

    • @andrewrichesson8627
      @andrewrichesson8627 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@tahunuva4254 And I'm back again...

    • @banzaiduck
      @banzaiduck 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@andrewrichesson8627 Only 7 times, you have still much to learn padwan ;-)

  • @DJF1984
    @DJF1984 6 ปีที่แล้ว +714

    Frolo King of the Bobbits lol

  • @GrayP25
    @GrayP25 6 ปีที่แล้ว +795

    This is a game where the theme and game mechanics are inseparable, if you're not a LoTR fan just forget about it. But if you are and if you're willing to invest some time, this game will offer you one of the best board gaming experiences of your life. It's a beast that I only pull from the shelf once or twice a year because it's the far opposite of a casual game. But it has remained through the years as my #1 favourite game of all time. It's one that I recommend to all LoTR fans.

    • @ninawilliams3017
      @ninawilliams3017 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      like risk

    • @OdinXivraj
      @OdinXivraj 5 ปีที่แล้ว +20

      I'm really not a fan of LotR and I love this game. Goes to show the quality of this game.

    • @JCDenton3
      @JCDenton3 4 ปีที่แล้ว +14

      This game was so powerful that it made me convert into a Tolkien Fan, it is easily the best game I've ever played and in the last few years I have never once had a bad game of the hundreds I've played.

    • @_g7085
      @_g7085 4 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      In college we bought the first edition and played it with 4 players every weekend for a few months.
      I agree that it is my favorite board game of all time. I still remember my victory when I got the card to bring to dwarves the last step into the war and muster a couple units, which was just enough to save Dale or whatever location up there.
      Absolutely fantastic. Perfect combination of theme and implementation.

    • @_g7085
      @_g7085 4 ปีที่แล้ว +16

      Also I spray painted each nation a different color. It gave a great feel of each nation being an independent entity joining in the war, especially if you ended up with mixed units in a single location.
      Elves were metallic silver, Dwarves were metallic gold of course. Not sure what the others were. Much Superior to the two colors that the game came with.

  • @VikingSchism
    @VikingSchism 6 ปีที่แล้ว +274

    That feta cheese visual was amazing

  • @alejandrolaguna203
    @alejandrolaguna203 4 ปีที่แล้ว +461

    24:00 “all games and jobs have been outlawed by the govt” damn watching this in 2020 hits different

    • @imaloser5689
      @imaloser5689 4 ปีที่แล้ว +14

      I should have bought the game.

    • @wraithface4410
      @wraithface4410 4 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      @@imaloser5689 you still can on ebay

    • @hollie5558
      @hollie5558 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@wraithface4410 i called a local store and they ordered from a supplier, you may be able to find it that way, for probably less than on ebay

    • @wraithface4410
      @wraithface4410 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@imaloser5689 Zatu games is where I bought my copy.

    • @sjorshoeijmans5442
      @sjorshoeijmans5442 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Oh right the covid thing

  • @mrk131324
    @mrk131324 6 ปีที่แล้ว +76

    The depth of this game is best explained this way: The books The Lord of the Rings could be read as an in depth game report for one specific match of War of the Rings. The reviewers hardly mentioned the cards, but everything that could have happened story wise is on the cards.

  • @estebangonzalez3865
    @estebangonzalez3865 6 ปีที่แล้ว +725

    these guys are the Monty Python of boardgames reviews

    • @josephbromley3364
      @josephbromley3364 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      ​@Cardboard Clash Yikes. Let's hang together and play Twister! SU&SD (even if I completely disagree with them) always produce entertaining, thoughtful and thought-provoking reviews. Your videos are considerably... less than great.

    • @CzaristMatt
      @CzaristMatt 5 ปีที่แล้ว +16

      These guys are the Top Gear of board games.

    • @HelloSadness101
      @HelloSadness101 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      The Bernie Bro
      Their humour is as terrible as Top Gear, that’s for sure.
      Plus they even played a generic, boring rock song in the video, like Top Gear do.
      Maybe you’re right.

    • @kaiserharry6568
      @kaiserharry6568 4 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      HelloSadness101 bad day?

    • @realkingofwales3917
      @realkingofwales3917 4 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Harald Kaiser Hermann Bad life rather :/

  • @TheBenjamoon
    @TheBenjamoon 6 ปีที่แล้ว +158

    Completely agree: WotR made me far more interested in LotR and its lore.
    But for anyone interested in this game - PAINT THE BASES OF THE MINIATURES. It makes playing it so much smoother and easier when you can tell which faction is which at a glance. I've even gone as far as painting the rims of the faction chits on the political track for the same reason.

    • @gull2112
      @gull2112 4 ปีที่แล้ว +19

      That's it mate! Not caring to paint, I bought some colored permanent markers and colored the bases with ease.

    • @somebodysomewhere5571
      @somebodysomewhere5571 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      I’m a big warhammer fan and player so I probably will thanks!

    • @lystic9392
      @lystic9392 2 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Just get those rubber ring thingies to snap the figurines in to. It makes the game 2x less frustrating.
      I got rubber ring thingies, and little mountain pieces. That way I can't forget where the mountains are, they are nice and visible. And keeping track of the different armies is much simpler.

    • @domiisbaack
      @domiisbaack 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      @@lystic9392 link to rubber thingies? :D

    • @djb3v
      @djb3v 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@domiisbaack yeah rubber thingies!

  • @RowantarotBlogspot
    @RowantarotBlogspot 6 ปีที่แล้ว +558

    This is the best game in our collection and the best 2-player game I have ever played. It is so thematic. It's not a board game, but a gaming experience for people who love Lord of the Rings -- the books. I am so glad I bought this game and cannot recommend it highly enough. The more you love Lord of the Rings (love as in, you've read it over and over for the last 30 or 40 years and have a lifetime of investment in Middle Earth), the more you will be floored and amazed by this fantastic game. My husband and I play this game, but not all in one sitting. We set a timer for 45 minutes and when it goes off, we finish the turn we're on and leave it out on the table until the next day. That's usually 3-4 turns per night. A game takes about 3.5 hours, so 3 or 4 nights. We find this is the best way for us to attack this game, and the long down time between sessions gives you loads of time to think about what you're going to do next. :)

    • @SylvEdu
      @SylvEdu 6 ปีที่แล้ว +34

      You and your husband play this game exactly the way my old buddy and I used to play it. We were major geeks about LotR, too. We both had the Extended Editions of the movies, had read the books, we both had matching elvish cloaks, weapon replicas (including Glamdring and Sting among many others), and we had a few of the rings of power, too. This game was by nerds for nerds.

    • @Slenderguy56
      @Slenderguy56 6 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      PLEASE PLAY A BOARD GAME CALLED Shogun.

    • @joshuacloud8731
      @joshuacloud8731 6 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      Nice. Good gamer control. Instead of playing over three nights, I usually find myself playing this three times in one sitting.

    • @RowantarotBlogspot
      @RowantarotBlogspot 6 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      Wow, we don't have that much merchandise, but we've both read the books so many times. I love the films, but nothing can match the books. Tolkien's not the greatest prose writer ever, but for world building, he is unmatched.

    • @miu4826
      @miu4826 6 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      @@SylvEdu I red "we both had matching Elvis cloaks" 😂

  • @midguard7917
    @midguard7917 6 ปีที่แล้ว +165

    The feta cheese and tomato Barad Dur was 11/10, oh my god. Thanks for another stellar review, dudes.

  • @alexwalker8082
    @alexwalker8082 6 ปีที่แล้ว +116

    L'Oreal; home of Cate Blanchett where you can receive a waterproof and a magic biscuit. Because you're worth it.

  • @Rokumasu853
    @Rokumasu853 4 ปีที่แล้ว +81

    "Sean Bean was like 'One does not simply walk into Mordor.' I know. I've tried... There's loads of orcs."

  • @runeundheim6858
    @runeundheim6858 6 ปีที่แล้ว +508

    “In a hole in the ground there lived a bobbit.”

    • @Duchu26
      @Duchu26 6 ปีที่แล้ว +21

      Can't watch the trilogy now without hearing "bobbits".

    • @Shenaldrac
      @Shenaldrac 6 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Yes. Yes there did. Look up Bobbit Worm, and then wish you hadn't.

    • @onebigadvocado6376
      @onebigadvocado6376 6 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Yeah, I'm never going in the water again. Thanks.

    • @sigurdbjohansson
      @sigurdbjohansson 6 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      "Not a nasty, smelly Bobbit, but a horny, creepy Bobbit."

    • @zelordofzepotatoes5274
      @zelordofzepotatoes5274 6 ปีที่แล้ว

  • @amuk3
    @amuk3 6 ปีที่แล้ว +31

    One of the things that simply amazes me about this game is that, despite the massive disparities between the Shadow and the Free Peoples, most of the games I play of it come down to just a handful of actions at the end. The race between Frodo getting to the top of Mount Doom or the Shadow earning its 10th VP is almost always intensely close. That is an enormous achievement for a game as asymmetrical as this one is.

  • @Lowekinder
    @Lowekinder 5 ปีที่แล้ว +138

    Bent elves? Are there any other kind?
    Its okay I can make that joke I'm half-elvish

    • @janekskiba1201
      @janekskiba1201 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Underrated comment right here officer!

    • @ArgonYouTube
      @ArgonYouTube 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      Jim Ticka Have you chosen to be apart of the race of men? Or are you one of the eternal eldar?

    • @scroople8488
      @scroople8488 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      Bloody knife ears

  • @universalflamethrower6342
    @universalflamethrower6342 2 ปีที่แล้ว +25

    Sauron is actually a really good singer, he once had a sing off with an elf, then he won and imprisoned the elf which was than devoured by his werewolf

  • @joedredd1168
    @joedredd1168 4 ปีที่แล้ว +153

    0:30 Er... No, those weren't the Easterlings you were showing off there, they were the Haradrim, men from the South who rode atop the Mûmakil. Both the Easterlings and the Haradrim fought for Sauron in the War of th Ring but Sauron's special ability is controlling minds and dominating wills. The two Blue Wizards rallied the Easterlings who rejected the Dark Lord in Rhûn and started a rebellion, and the Haradrim were humanized by Sam in the books and Faramir in the films, by saying he wondered if they truly wanted to be here fighting for Sauron, and not instead to be with their families, and living happily and peacefully. Indeed they were deceived by Sauron or at worse were forced to fight.

    • @MrBigCookieCrumble
      @MrBigCookieCrumble 4 ปีที่แล้ว +51

      Yeah i got a bit jaded by that explenation they presented, quite the disservice to Tolkien and his work.

    • @Glorfindel_117
      @Glorfindel_117 4 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      We don't actually know anything about what the Blue Wizards did aside from "going East" but yeah, otherwise correct.

    • @moochieman7
      @moochieman7 4 ปีที่แล้ว +30

      Also, it's highly implied that a big part of why the Haradrim are Allies to Sauron in the War of the Ring is that years ago the Kingsmen, Western Men who fell to evil, settled in the port of Umbar in the south and subjugated the native Southrons. The Haradrim are written rather sympathetically in the story and in the appendices; they are a people destabilised and exploited by the greedy and tyrannical colonialists who are being made to go to war against their own interests.

    • @Always8Baka
      @Always8Baka 4 ปีที่แล้ว +26

      @@obihugzenobi wtf. No? I think you are mixing up Lotr with Eragon there. The Orcs where made from tortured Elves and are evil to the core. There is nothing redeemable about them, thats the whole point of them.

    • @dant5349
      @dant5349 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Shut up nerd

  • @MrTyradan
    @MrTyradan 6 ปีที่แล้ว +49

    "You can't just march into mordor - I know I've tried There are lots of Orcs!" haha xD

  • @kristofwouters4227
    @kristofwouters4227 6 ปีที่แล้ว +134

    This is the game that brought me to Boardgame's. Like You said. It's a steep learning curve. First 6 months there was always al lap-top and BBG to help us. Learning the game. And After 5 Year's It's stil our Top 1 game. And we can set it up blindfuld. And play the game within 2 hour's. But it's always a hard trip to Middle earth.

  • @박찬우-q5m
    @박찬우-q5m 4 ปีที่แล้ว +72

    Congrats for 1M views guys. This was the video that introduced me to SU&SD, which have been my guide of board gaming world ever since entering the hobby. I genuinely believe that you guys are one of the best TH-camrs out there, and this is one of your best videos. I love you guys Quinns, Paul, Matt, and Tom!

  • @Bregeduur1
    @Bregeduur1 6 ปีที่แล้ว +94

    19:24 Is that supposed to be the Gold Saucer theme? (FFVII for those wo don't know)

    • @d0lvl0
      @d0lvl0 6 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      recognized it immediately lol

  • @Notorietypulp
    @Notorietypulp 5 ปีที่แล้ว +21

    *singing* "where did I put my ring, have you seeeeeen my jeweeell'ry"
    "My lord, i-im still here. I had other questions-"
    "OH, ... SEND THEM EAST SARUMAN"
    "Yes but how many? To send?"
    "...loads"
    "Ah, of course. Were you singing?"
    "I'M VERY BUSY"
    "Yes my lord"
    This skit is unbelievably good

  • @foxtrotdelta225
    @foxtrotdelta225 5 ปีที่แล้ว +46

    Can you please do a play though of this game?!

  • @mutavhello6654
    @mutavhello6654 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    The Easterlings were never described as "dark skinned". They were described as being diverse and having skin colors from olive to sallow. Also they were in conflict with the Free Peoples long before orcs ever existed.

  • @Duchu26
    @Duchu26 6 ปีที่แล้ว +55

    Bought this game like a month ago and the beginning of this review made me think I made a mistake.
    But the bobbits saved my hopes and dreams.

    • @tigermuppetcut
      @tigermuppetcut 6 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      You've bought yourself the best game there is IMO. Get a friend you see regularly who'd be into it and as the chaps say, play it often enough so that you recall the rules and little things. I have about 800 games and this is my most played and most loved, amazing in so many ways.

    • @banzaiduck
      @banzaiduck 6 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      This is the best game ever.

    • @Duchu26
      @Duchu26 6 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      I've finally found myself some free time (and opponents) and played three games. So far, it's amazing. I can't seem to get this game out of my head, I just want to play it again.
      PS. I'm a huge fan of the movie trilogy (that was the main reason I've bought the game) and I think this might actually be my favourite board game ever.

    • @qaiser648
      @qaiser648 6 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@Duchu26 you should reading the books

    • @rogerbaidon
      @rogerbaidon 6 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@tigermuppetcut what are your top 10 games??

  • @LoreSquid
    @LoreSquid 3 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    That dissing on the Haradrim early in the video feels like someone wanted to make a joke and didn’t know the lore context behind it.
    There’s a story reason why the Haradrim were allied with the orcs. And it has to do with a theme you find even throughout the movies: corrupting of the race of men, regardless of affiliation or geographic location.

  • @smmclaug75
    @smmclaug75 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Managed to get a full 45 seconds into the video before deploying a cloyingly shopworn "Tolkien was a racist" smear. Impressive stuff.

  • @MegaLittleCrow
    @MegaLittleCrow 4 ปีที่แล้ว +40

    This is brilliantly scripted, nesting rules into their bickering gives us reason to care about whatever minutia they're getting into.

  • @marekostafin9434
    @marekostafin9434 6 ปีที่แล้ว +62

    I got this game for my birthday this year and fell in love with it! Last month I finished painting all the heroes and got one of the expansions! It's absolutely great!

    • @somebodysomewhere5571
      @somebodysomewhere5571 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      You painted them? Wow as someone who is big into warhammer 40K I gotta say with the size of these models you have my respect

  • @Lullaby454
    @Lullaby454 4 ปีที่แล้ว +20

    Bought this game on the back of this review ... me and my dad absolutely love it! Played around 6 games so far and like you both said neither of us have swapped sides yet!

  • @christophereckes3251
    @christophereckes3251 4 ปีที่แล้ว +37

    I will never play this game. Thank you for giving me a chance to live vicariously through you both :)

  • @golem2246
    @golem2246 6 ปีที่แล้ว +27

    This was an epic review. I watched it a second time through mostly because I was enthralled by the way the two of you talked about the experience. Keep it up guys!

  • @JQXJQ
    @JQXJQ 6 ปีที่แล้ว +79

    That bit with the pear made me a subscriber.

  • @talongrey7492
    @talongrey7492 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Tolkien didn't dislike dark skinned people. The harad were very similar in colour to many Hobbits. They were described as swarthy or brown faced. Tolkien's works are some of the most diverse in fantasy history. Soooooo. Yeah.

  • @TheSh1kamaru
    @TheSh1kamaru 5 ปีที่แล้ว +37

    17:00 'like a waterproof cloak or a magic biscuit'
    I am amused and annoyed at the same time.

  • @jakeveryard1775
    @jakeveryard1775 5 ปีที่แล้ว +16

    Have to agree with a lot of this, even if it is now my favourite game. I'm a big Tolkien fan and this game is hands down the most fun I've had with any LotR game in any format, mostly because it feels like LotR. There are so many references to things from the books and so many interesting things that can happen, that no two games will play out in the same way.
    I first played this with my sister, also a LotR fan. We had a first experience very similar to you guys; we both went away quite frustrated at the game and not really sure we'd ever touch it again. But then we talked the next morning, and had that feeling of 'we know we can do better next time' and what I really love about this game, is that this feeling never really goes away. Whether you win or lose the game, there are going to be moments you look back on and think 'I should've done something differently' and that's such a huge thing for me in gaming. You know that it wasn't your only choice, nothing forced you to attack that stronghold on that turn, but your impatience ended up with your attacking troops getting decimated.
    The cards are great fun too, it plays into the unpredictability of it all. You know how many units your enemy has in a given place, but they could well turn around and play a card that renders your own leaders completely useless, greatly weakening the effectiveness of your army. And I love that, I love this idea that there's always more to things than it seems.
    I also love the dice. I love the idea that they're your resources for the turn and you don't get to choose what you get. As someone once said "all we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us" and this is what I mean; the whole game is a huge love letter to fans of the books.
    My sister and I also had this moment where we had set up for another game, this time we were going to switch sides. But when it came to it, we both wanted to play the same side again, and trying out new strategies and seeing if our luck could turn.
    In one of our first games, she felt crippled by the lack of dice, so in the next game she split Strider off within the first two turns of the game, and soon enough he went to Gondor and became Aragorn, giving her the extra die she had been craving. Yet on the very next turn, she made an attempt to take back Pelargir from my forces with Aragorn leading the charge, and as a result, he was killed and she immediately lost that die. It's one of those moments that we'll never forget because while it was hilarious to me, it was heartbreaking for her because she thought she was doing it 'right' this time, that by expanding her own opportunities and taking a more active approach, that maybe she could buy enough time for the Ringbearers, or maybe even counterattack. But in the end, the strategy she had been obsessing over in her mind was cut short because one combat didn't go her way and because I had played a card she had no way of knowing I had.
    And all of these are reasons I love this game. I love all the tiny facets of it, but it is certainly not for everyone. I love the dice as resources, and the fact that as the Shadow player, you're fighting Sauron's obsession with the Ring, and all you want to do is take this stronghold but you can't because Sauron is fixating on the Ring for the third turn in a row. I love the constant hiding, moving and hunting of the Fellowship, the way companions can split off or be killed off, the way companions can advance nations to be at war, or lend their strength to combats. I love that you can retreat into sieges and that sieges take extra time and effort from the attacking player that they don't want to spend. But I think the people who will get the most out of this game are those who are huge LotR fans, especially of the books. Film fans will probably enjoy it too, but I think for maximum enjoyment, anyone who loves the books and who knows all the places and races and all these little events that are referenced, will have the most fun with it.
    TL;DR
    This game is fantastic if you're a LotR fan, especially if you love the books and as these guys have said; it's deep and engaging and you'll end up obsessing over what you could've done differently after every session of play

    • @pixxelwizzard
      @pixxelwizzard 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Great write up! Your writing skills had me fully engaged throughout! Thanks! :)

    • @jakeveryard1775
      @jakeveryard1775 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@pixxelwizzard Thank you, glad you enjoyed it!

  • @Your2ndPlanB
    @Your2ndPlanB 6 ปีที่แล้ว +283

    Lost it at 'bobbits'!

    • @GenestealerUK
      @GenestealerUK 6 ปีที่แล้ว +41

      Don't forget the most important Bobbit of all... Brave little Frolo

    • @rafajedrzejczyk7117
      @rafajedrzejczyk7117 6 ปีที่แล้ว +22

      GenestealerUK Frolo - the King of Bobbits

    • @kidkunjer
      @kidkunjer 6 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      I assumed it was "bobitts" as in John and Lorena Bobitt.

    • @Duchu26
      @Duchu26 6 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      Now, every time someone in the LOTR movies says "Hobbits", I will replace it with "bobbits" in my head.

    • @reutermo
      @reutermo 6 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      That little git

  • @Zwerggoldhamster
    @Zwerggoldhamster 5 ปีที่แล้ว +36

    I have never played this game but who doesn't know where Minas Morgul is? xD

  • @danestotzer986
    @danestotzer986 6 ปีที่แล้ว +13

    I have one of the original copies of War of the Rings from the 1980's. No figures just hundreds of little card board pieces.

  • @seanmcconnell1874
    @seanmcconnell1874 3 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    This game is wonderful! I played this with my brother who lived with me for a year like every week for about a year. We NEVER got tired of it, if anything we liked it more and more and more. Then we got the expansions and it got EVEN BETTER. I have played easily 100+ games of this and it is super fun and enjoyable every single time I play (with my brother, everyone else we play against we have to chill out and not trash them in the first 4 rounds) But if you have one nerdy friend close by, this is easily one of the best boardgames you could ever play.

  • @Mr_Vitti
    @Mr_Vitti 6 ปีที่แล้ว +41

    I got this game back in 2004 and played it a lot with the same friend. Its like you said: once both players got the rules, it is a great experience, and you can play it over and over again.
    Sadly I ve never „trained“ a new player to this point, so the game is sitting in my shelf...
    Watching your review made me laught (and cry... thinking at the good hours I spent with WotR)
    Thank you!

  • @Lorgar64
    @Lorgar64 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    The Easterlings joined up with Sauron because he'd been manipulating them back when he gave some of their kings rings of power. Getting screwed over by Numenor didn't help matters.

  • @adnanilyas6368
    @adnanilyas6368 6 ปีที่แล้ว +14

    So I stumbled on this video and the TH-cam channel. Well, I showed this to my friend and we decided to buy the game! (And now I can’t help but binge on this channel.) And you know what? This game really is time consuming. We spent HOURS setting it up and learning the rules. And then we spent hours to get HALFWAY through the game. So we’re going back this weekend to finish it. But, dang it, I can’t stop thinking about this game! Now that we know what we are doing, it feels really engaging. And the feelings and frustrations you talked about in the review are dead on. My buddy is looking at me march orcs across Middle Earth towards his elves and he’s panicking about how he doesn’t have enough soldiers. Meanwhile, I’m staring at all those strongholds thinking “I need more orcs! How am I supposed to get more orcs where I want them??!!” This game is tremendous fun.

  • @munsihota1691
    @munsihota1691 5 ปีที่แล้ว +14

    If I could never play another board game again, I would be content just listening to your guys reviews. I could binge watch you guys for weeks.

  • @AvantHorizon
    @AvantHorizon 6 ปีที่แล้ว +64

    Saruman the Shower Robe

  • @5Dworld
    @5Dworld 4 ปีที่แล้ว +34

    "On, on they went"
    Epic game. Its one of the best boardgames ever made.

  • @greenman3120
    @greenman3120 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    Tolkien's heros were based on Western culture. The Easterlings were based on Persian and Arabian culture hence it was natural to make them the enemy. Think about the time he lived in and differing opinions of Tolkien's generation instead of making idiotic virtue signalling comments regarding " brown people" affiliating with Orks.

  • @tacob0
    @tacob0 6 ปีที่แล้ว +22

    Captain glitterpants noooooooo :'( He was my favorite character from the books...

  • @SkaiaMechanic
    @SkaiaMechanic 6 ปีที่แล้ว +13

    This was hilarious. You truly showed the emotions you got playing this game, and it was extremely well written overall. Even as a 25 minute long review, I still watched it, like, three times just laughing at it. Thank you!

  • @ender7278
    @ender7278 6 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    8:01 "The Fetaship"
    Makes sense, since Saruon's tower is made of feta cheese.

  • @Grimmlocked
    @Grimmlocked 6 ปีที่แล้ว +50

    This game is one of my requirements for girls I date. If they don't like it they don't deserve this proud foot

    • @TheEphemeralMammal
      @TheEphemeralMammal 6 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      Guessing you require she be a Hornblower as well.... :P

    • @Itchy__
      @Itchy__ 6 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      BIG FEET!!

    • @patrickbuerke1390
      @patrickbuerke1390 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@TheEphemeralMammal BOOOOO

  • @23MP23
    @23MP23 6 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    I was hesitant to watch this review for awhile because this is one of my favourite games, and I was afraid you guys would hate it. I'm glad to see you enjoyed it,and can still recommend it even if it's a niche game. Keep up the great videos!

  • @gqsnowman
    @gqsnowman 6 ปีที่แล้ว +157

    Reference pear sighting!

  • @stumbling
    @stumbling 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Just realised Middle Earth looks a bit like Wales, which would make Mordor Swindon?

  • @mattk38918
    @mattk38918 4 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    So it’s Total War: Third Age, but in board game form. Sounds awesome

  • @paulnorthey6712
    @paulnorthey6712 6 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    "You're expected to know what the Book of Mazarbul is; which sounds like someone who tried to pretend they're allowed to be in the library, when actually they're quite drunk" !! LOL

  • @vincerainelli603
    @vincerainelli603 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Ya know, being a lifelong Tolkien super nerd, it didn't even occur to me that some of those problems you mentioned, would actually be problems, like the lack of flavor text, or no helping to find where a certain region is. I went into this game just...knowing. The moral: Make sure at least one of your gaming buddies knows their way around Middle Earth if you undertake this bad boy.

  • @rayrpger6141
    @rayrpger6141 5 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    The expansion of the first edition "Battles of the Third Age" is also amazing with two standalone scenario's to play (Battle of Helms Deep & Minas Tirith)

  • @MugenLord
    @MugenLord 6 ปีที่แล้ว +56

    Just found this channel and I must say, its very interesting. SUBSCRIBED! Now time to surf through more of this channels content XD

  • @bushibayushi
    @bushibayushi 6 ปีที่แล้ว +134

    1. You can leave your borders when not at war. You can't cross other nations' borders.
    2. You have to be activated to enter "at war" box.

    • @NoNameAtAll2
      @NoNameAtAll2 6 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      Are there borders between a country and not-a-country?

    • @johnc.4871
      @johnc.4871 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      NoName there are neutral lands that u can go into at any time.

    • @bushibayushi
      @bushibayushi 6 ปีที่แล้ว

      Border on the board might as well be called a boarder :D. No need to be rude ;)

  • @logicalcommenter4137
    @logicalcommenter4137 6 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    Wow, I nearly died when I saw this video. War of the ring is one of my favorite games of all time, and my friends and I love it to death. You all didnt talk about the four player version but I would say if you have a couple of great friends it is a blast to both strategize with one another and use each other’s resources effectively so that you don’t suddenly fall off the rails and descend into chaos, kind of like how axis and allies forces you and your friends to realize that you are not going to be able to accomplish anything without the cooperation and help of the other players. In fact, we love this game so much that we found a cheeky way to incorporate five players into the game, which for some reason we find ourselves playing more than the actual game. The expansions are a great addition for us and although the game is a pretty large learning curve, you will find yourself slipping into the game as if it were routine after two or more playthroughs. Thank you for showcasing your opinions on the game and bringing more light to the lord of the rings corner of of thematic board gaming.

    • @ManyMilkGuys
      @ManyMilkGuys 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      How do you incorporate the fifth player? Just curious

    • @logicalcommenter4137
      @logicalcommenter4137 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@ManyMilkGuysgod it’s been so long since we did that, but if I recall correctly I think we had one player for each of the shadow factions.

  • @theunfortunategeneral
    @theunfortunategeneral 6 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    I kinda like games that are sort of leaning to a "youre in an advantage BUT!" And "youre in a dissadvantege BUT!"
    Makes things intresting.

  • @benH215
    @benH215 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Overall, another great review! TBH though, as a fan of the books, I was put off by the needless commentary/opinion on Tolkien's usage of Easterlings in the book. I mean come on, based on the content of the rest of the review you don't seem to know much about the fiction this game portrays. I found myself just trying not to write off the review after that. Maybe just stick to reviewing games and leave the review of the books / source material to someone else.

  • @TheFanatical1
    @TheFanatical1 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I think a good counterpoint to all of your comments about specific locations and etc. is that you probably won't play this game unless you're a LOTR nerd or a wargamer.

  • @lordcarve
    @lordcarve 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Like the bit talking about stakes of the game and story. It's exactly how it was in the books. The stakes are huge. You feel like Frodo is going to die for 3 books. As a big fantasy reader, not many fantasy books recapture this. Good for the game.

  • @MattTheSpratt
    @MattTheSpratt 4 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    i adore that cheese-and-tomato tower like you wouldn't believe

  • @spiderfingers86
    @spiderfingers86 6 ปีที่แล้ว +14

    Would love to see you do a review of Battle of the Five Armies, which was designed to be a more streamlined experience to War of the Ring

  • @ianw.5047
    @ianw.5047 6 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    The expansions add so much to the game, you should honestly review them soon. Well they add alot of content that you may never play, that's really the only downside to the expansions

  • @lischka44
    @lischka44 5 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    This is my favourite game of all time. I have played it over 20 times. Best money I invested in a game

  • @egodreas
    @egodreas 4 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    You were doing so well at saying Sauron throughout the video, but I did hear a Sawron at 1:51. Please fix and re-upload. Thanks.

  • @Seraphim7996
    @Seraphim7996 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    I think that this review could actually equally be applied to the books. At first glance they seem daunting, and when you first read them they can (for some people) seem archaic and tedious and difficult to get into. But the more you get into the story the more you see that there's something there, something deep and human and enthralling. Which sounds a lot like many of the comments they were saying about the game.

  • @thealpacawhisperer7569
    @thealpacawhisperer7569 6 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    Brilliant review! I loved every second of it. I have the game here in my shelf as well, but sadly never played it properly.
    One question: Is there anybody who can tell me how to keep track of the hidden movement of Frodo & Sam? I never had a real clue how to do it a good and comfortable way; other then writing it down to a paper or something. That was always my main question about the mechanics - so help would be very appreciated. Thank you!

    • @Kaiman620
      @Kaiman620 6 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      You don't need to track their hidden movement. At the moment that you choose to declare their position or they are revealed by Sauron, you decide what path they take, moving them up to the amount of spaces that you've advanced them on the fellowship track

    • @thealpacawhisperer7569
      @thealpacawhisperer7569 6 ปีที่แล้ว

      Aaaachsooo, thank you! That helped a lot! :)

    • @astron3778
      @astron3778 6 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      You don't actually keep track of where they are. Any card that talks about where the fellowship is references the mini of their last known location. When revealed, you move the fellowship mini the number of spaces on the fellowship track and then reduce it to 0. Does that make sense?

  • @VortexMotiveVision
    @VortexMotiveVision 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    I've watched this several times over the years because it is just one the best board game reviews I've ever seen. Brilliant!

  • @Durin-Björnsson
    @Durin-Björnsson 6 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    I am so thankful for finally finding your channel. Probably most entertaining and worthy reviews on board-games I ever saw. Especially with the little puns and jokes, and those small improvised jokes like the dialogue between Sauron and Saruman. Love it! Keep it up!

  • @the1only17
    @the1only17 6 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    I don’t even play board games, nor do I want too. But I found this fascinating.

  • @humanvegetable
    @humanvegetable 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Cheese tower at 5:55 was amazing

  • @Squiggypie
    @Squiggypie 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Just played my first game of War of the Ring!
    Turn One, I had the Elves immediately go to war, while my opponent had Sauron go to war, then began moving his forces from Dol Goldur and Moria to Lorien.
    Turn 2, Lorien fell and my opponent gained 2 victory points. Simultaneously, elves from Rivendell and the Woodland Realm each moved 2 spaces towards the now-empty strongholds.
    Turn 3, they arrived, and my opponent could not recover.
    What a great game!

    • @TheRatedOniChannel
      @TheRatedOniChannel 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Somehow, it makes every single battle and movement completely critical, so few games make that happen.

  • @SenorTallon
    @SenorTallon 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I'm going to comment the timestamp 5:28 so that I can explain myself if my friends catch me saying "Frolo, King of the Bobbits" one more time.

  • @pedro15305
    @pedro15305 4 ปีที่แล้ว +13

    What I love about the Shut up & Sit Down is the care and work they put into their videos. Not only the production. Every single video they treat like a special thing, with its own "story". With beginning middle and end. It's kinda funny to say this, but the writing on every video is VERY good. Their videos have souls. I watch some of the reviews more than once and get entertained every time. (War of the Ring is one of them, also Captain Sonar, Root, Treasure Island, Blood on the Clocktower, Great Western Trail... Not to mention the Megagame which is one of the best videos ever) Those videos mean a lot to me. Thank you Shut up & Sit Down.

  • @Kelfuma
    @Kelfuma 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    If it weren’t for this review, I would have never known about this game! I was able to play it for the first time last month and it is amazing.

  • @welestgw
    @welestgw 6 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    "Too many bobbits do spoil the broth."

  • @captainiceberg8637
    @captainiceberg8637 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    This is the best board game of all time, hands down. Setting it up is almost a ritual at this point, one that I enjoy.

  • @danielpiotrowski4946
    @danielpiotrowski4946 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    I. Love. This. Game. Hats off to you guys for reviewing it! It's one of the main things that pushed me to buy it.

  • @happydetectivevalentine3009
    @happydetectivevalentine3009 4 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    I feel like this game would be amazing online with when you looked at a card that mentioned a place, there would be a ‘look at’ or view option that would highlight the area.

  • @namegenerator8760
    @namegenerator8760 5 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I think if you are more in the lore of The Lord of the Rings, it might be easier to find all these tiny regions spread over the map. For example Faramirs Archers allow you to attack the regions east of Osgiliath, and if you are a bit into this universe you probably know were Faramir and his archers were scouting around, or at least you should know that the regions have to be somewhere near Gondor.

  • @legion999
    @legion999 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    >Easterlings, remember them?
    You don't remember them brother, because those are Haradrim figs.

  • @frankdelgrosso8297
    @frankdelgrosso8297 6 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Seems like a more interesting version of Axsis and Allies. I think this would be right up my ally, now I just need to find an opponent who is willing to put in the time to play it.

  • @Sask12
    @Sask12 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    bruh not gonna lie ive prob wached this vid and Cthulhu wars and shit like dat like 30 times

  • @reubenm.d.5218
    @reubenm.d.5218 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    "Aspirations that make you feel warm are inportant".
    Thank goodness. My board game collection relies on this

  • @anthonyrivera4547
    @anthonyrivera4547 4 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Lmaoooo when he brang in the expansions xD

  • @ribby9069
    @ribby9069 6 ปีที่แล้ว +16

    The book of mazarbul joke made me snort whilst I was drinking my tea

  • @jacekszymanski9406
    @jacekszymanski9406 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Game is amazing. I love everything about it. Rules are not that complicated. Pace of the game can be fast. Few times we finished in 2 hours. Every game was like discovering that amazing story all over again. Love Your reviews. Great channel.

  • @qm230
    @qm230 6 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Regardless this being a review it was hilarious and I loved it

  • @Raven7744
    @Raven7744 4 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    "Too may bobbits do spoil the broth"
    Instant sub